Beneteau Antares 620 Sea handling

[Bene Ant]

Hello,

Looking for some advice. I’m fairly new to boating and recently purchased the Beneteau Antares 620 with Suzuki 90hp. My last boat was a Shetland 535 with a 70hp Evinrude so this is a bit of an upgrade in both price and size.

On my first trip out I found the boat would roll quite a bit. We weren’t out in rough seas I think it was an F4 with 3-4ft swells. When we were coming back into shore the swells were coming from behind us and tended to push the boat a bit. At one point we came down the side of a swell and it felt like the boat was about to capsize it leaned so much. I’m not sure if this is expected. I’m used to the low centre of gravity on the Shetland so never noticed the rolling.

Doe anyone here own or have experience with a Antares 620 or similar? Is the rolling normal for a pilothouse type boat?

TIA

 

[Cbjroms]

I have a Merry Fisher 645 and recognise the behaviour that you describe. They do roll around quite a bit.

 

[Bene Ant]

I have a Merry Fisher 645 and recognise the behaviour that you describe. They do roll around quite a bit.

Thanks!

Do you have any safety concerns with the rolling? What kind of seas can these boats handle or have you been out in? I don’t tend to go out if it’s rough or anything over a F4

 

[Oscar24]

I also have a Merry Fisher 645 and it handles the same way. There a CAT C boat and a 4ft swell will be uncomfortable (esp at speed)
I tend to limit my boating to under F4 and if the wind goes above 13kts. Docking can be tricky if its gusty.
There a light boat and good for inshore and harbour boating, any sort of chop and they can be lively and slam.

 

[BruceK]

They have extraordinarily flat hull with almost no draught which on the upside gives a stable fishing platform and economical on power. Downside is slam and handling (sea kindliness) although quite capable boats nonetheless. Broaching as you describe though is never a good thing, you need to go faster than that wave!

 

[Bene Ant]

I also have a Merry Fisher 645 and it handles the same way. There a CAT C boat and a 4ft swell will be uncomfortable (esp at speed)
I tend to limit my boating to under F4 and if the wind goes above 13kts. Docking can be tricky if its gusty.
There a light boat and good for inshore and harbour boating, any sort of chop and they can be lively and slam.

Yeah iv noticed that. If there’s strong wind it’s hard to recover on the trailer at a slipway.

Iv read boats can take 30% of their length in wave height but i certainly wouldn’t like to take a 6 footer over the front of this one. My Shetland use to fly through the waves but you would get wet!

 

[davebradf0rd]

I think the problem is flat bottom for plaining and centre of gravity is much higher than an inboard engine. This tends to make my 6.8 skittish in a heavy swell. I'm had some scary moments when passing through turbulence caused tidal current intersections (headlands). I think you have to accept the limitation of the boat class while enjoying the performance in calmer waters.